UPDATE: Spokane River Murder Victim Had Legs & Hands Tied With Bag Over His Head

UPDATE: The murder victim was found with his hands tied and his legs tied. The victim also had a bag over his head. Both of the suspects made a court appearance on Friday. A judge set Dakota Moss and Vincent Merrill's bond at $1 million each. Their arraignments will be on July 9th at 9:30. The murder victim has been identified as 40-year-old Mark E. Pedersen. The Medical Examiner's office says that Pedersen died of strangulation, he also had a blunt head injury.

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UPDATE: Hours after the discovery of a body in the Spokane River, Spokane Police Major Crimes (MCU) Detectives have arrested two people in connection to the suspicious death investigation.

20-year-old Vincent L. Merrill and 24-year-old Dakota J. Moss were arrested and charged with 1st Degree Murder. Both are scheduled to be in first appearance today.

The Spokane Police Dept. says all the people involved were transients. Everyone involved was living in that area (under the bridge) at the time of the murder. Detectives also believe that it was pre-meditated murder.

The identity of the male homicide victim will be released by the Spokane County Medical Examiners Office.

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KHQ.COM - Several emergency responders rushed to the Spokane River around 11 a.m. on Thursday after a few fishermen reported there was a body in the water under the Spokane Falls Boulevard bridge. The fishermen flagged down a runner because they did not have a cell phone, and the runner immediately called 911.

When emergency responders arrived they noticed a body was submerged. Major Crimes Detectives and the Spokane County Marine Rescue team is on scene now investigating and retrieving the body from the water. At this point the Spokane Police Department cannot tell us if it is a suicide or if the individual died some other way.

The police could not tell us at this point if the individual found dead was male or female. An autopsy is planned for Friday. If we get any new details we will be sure to update you immediately.